Undergraduate Program Tracks
The Middlebury School in Italy offers multiple linguistic points of entry to students studying abroad in Italy. The School’s site in Florence offers three tracks to accommodate students at all levels of Italian: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
As with the Italian Language School held during the summer, all students regardless of level will be expected to adhere to the Middlebury Language Pledge® during their time at the Middlebury School in Italy.
Regardless of level, single semester students must complete 4 units of Middlebury credit, and full-year students must complete 8 units of Middlebury credit.
Beginner Track
The Beginner track is a unique opportunity for students who are new to the Italian language to approach its study in a more immersive context. The Language and Culture course will be taught in Italian so as to allow students not only to study the language, but offer them an opportunity to use it in an environment that focuses on its acquisition. Area studies courses will begin in English and increase toward more content in Italian as the semester progresses. In consultation with the director of the program, students may also be given the option of choosing from courses taught in English at the Università degli Studi di Firenze or the Accademia d’Arte.
The Beginner track is designed for students with 0-0.5 years of college-level Italian (or the equivalent). Visit the Middlebury School in Italy’s website for more information about course offerings for this track.
Students enrolled in the Beginner track are encouraged to visit the School in Italy Pre-Immersion website prior to arriving in Italy. This website offers incoming students more information about the program, as well as tools and suggestions regarding Italian media, essential Italian vocabulary and language practice, and the Middlebury Language Pledge®.
Intermediate Track
The Intermediate track allows students to continue learning Italian by taking language and area studies courses at the Middlebury Sede. The language of instruction will be in Italian and, along with a Language and Culture course, students will take courses allowing them to gain a wider breadth of knowledge in disciplines such as Italian history, literature, and art. In consultation with the director, students will select their courses from among the available options at the Middlebury Sede, the Università degli Studi di Firenze, the Accademia d’Arte, and/or the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (spring semester or full-year students only).
The Intermediate track is designed for students who have completed 1-1.5 years of college-level Italian (or the equivalent).
Students enrolled in the Intermediate track are encouraged to visit the Middlebury School in Italy’s website for more information about course offerings and the School in Italy Pre-Immersion website prior to arriving in Italy. This website offers incoming students more information about the program, as well as tools and suggestions regarding Italian media, essential Italian vocabulary and language practice, and the Middlebury Language Pledge®.
Advanced Track
The Advanced track is designed for students with two or more years of college-level Italian (or the equivalent).
Students in the Advanced track will take three courses, which include an advanced Grammar and Stylistics course at the Middlebury Sede and a full-semester course at the Università degli Studi di Firenze . They may choose their third course from those offered by the Middlebury Sede, the Università degli Studi di Firenze (half-semester course), and/or the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (spring semester or full-year students only).
The main foci of the Middlebury Sede courses is to understand Italian society through its cultural output (literature/cinema/art). These classes have a structure that is similar to North American universities with assessment taking into consideration students’ active participation and ability to analyze key concepts, a mid term exam, a final exam, a written paper, and an oral presentation, all in Italian.
Students enrolled in the Advanced track are encouraged to visit the Middlebury School in Italy’s website for more information about course offerings and the School in Italy Pre-Immersion website prior to arriving in Italy. This website offers incoming students more information about the program, as well as tools and suggestions regarding Italian media, essential Italian vocabulary and language practice, and the Middlebury Language Pledge®.
